So the Chupacarcass is a dog?
Is the Chupacabra a relative of the primitive Thrinaxodon?
Chupacabra theories are everywhere now that the remains of one have allegedly been found. There seems to be a consensus that the Chupacarcass could have a Canine origin, however there are discrepancies such as vertebrate structure, teeth and nails. The skeleton of the creature is not typical of your average Canine. So here is another theory to consider, we may be dealing with a creature that lived 240 million years ago. The Chupacabra could possibly be a relative of the primitive Thrinaxodon or if we wanted to venture even closer to the lunacy edge it could very well be one. There is a possibility that the Thrinaxodon could have survived the extinction level event that allegedly killed the dinosaurs.
Ground Zero recently wrote an article that talked about the possibility of prehistoric creatures living in South America. In the article "The Discovery of the beast" we read that many scientists have stated that climatic changes could be responsible for most of the dinosaurs that died off. Evidence shows that the temperature dropped at the end of the Mesozoic era and the sea levels fell. This destroyed the perfect green house that kept all kinds of life fruitful.
A sudden change in climate affected the growth of plants throwing the ecosystem out of balance and depleting the food supply for the animals. However areas of South America and Africa have virtually remained unchanged since that time.
The latest reports from Nicaragua claim that the remains of what is believed to be a Chupacabra have been found and many scientists are saying that the specimen may be the remains of a canine.
The ranchers of the area where the Chupacabra was shot insist that The animal found in the area is different from a common hound, since its teeth were pink in color, it stood differently and it drained the blood of at least 120 sheep.
The first reports out of Nicaragua painted the creature as a hybrid species of both reptile and canine:
The presence of this being, characterized as being bold, dog-like and capable of making rapid movements, conducted its final attacks on the San Lorenzo farm, forcing the estate's owner, Jorge Luis Talavera, to initiate a hunt that would terminate the "Chupacabras" existence. –La Prensa De Nicaragua
Other witnesses told La Prensa:
After having found the alleged "Chupacabras", some locals, like Mr. Milan Rojas, claim that it is neither a dog nor a wolf, but rather the strange product of a combination of various dog types. "I am familiar with all types of wild animal and this one seems strange to me, given its bare, long and thin tail, which differs greatly from that of a wolf, which is quite hairy," he explained.
Zootechnician Giocconda Chevez, who reached the site to learn more about the discovery, noted that the animal had extremely high nails located above its claws which possibly aided it in attacking its victims, along with the oversized set of fangs.
She further notes that its eye-sockets are somewhat large in comparison with its head, making note--as did other visitors to the site--of several protuberances in the upper vertebrae "shaped like a crocodile's crest".
What Don Jairo found most startling was the lack of bodily hair and very small ears. Although the animal has been reduced to a skeleton after the vultures feasted upon it, it is shaped like a long, yellow-colored dog, given the pigmentation which can still be seen on part of its tail. Nonetheless, curiosity-seekers have indicated that its resembles no known specimen. --- La Prensa De Nicaragua
Recent allegations have now been presented to the national press also claim that:
The Chupacabras of Malpaisillo" (Leon) which has caused such interest at the local and international level after having been shot to death by a rancher, has vanished following the disclosures made by scientists of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua-Leon (UNAN), who opined that the animal discovered was the skeleton of a dog.
"This is our initial impression, that it isn't an unknown animal but merely a dog. Further analysis is still required to reach a final conclusion," said Edmundo Torres, the vice chancellor for research at UNAN-Leon. – La Prensa de Nicaragua
These characteristics most definitely mimic those of the Cynodonts a type of mammal like reptile species that the Thrinaxodon belongs to.
Thrinaxodon, a small Lystrosaurus Zone cynodont, shows many of the characters of the group. Especially striking are the post-canine teeth, each of which carries several well-developcd cusps.
Also the another trait that Thrinaxodon shares with the alleged Chupacabra remains is the skull with large eye sockets and huge jaw bone. The lower jaw of the Cynodont is considerably enlarged as are the eye sockets. Another highly specialized group, known as the Ictidosauria, were very small animals where the dentary bone of the lower jaw was actually in contact with the skull and effectively formed the entire lower jaw. By this character the Ictidosauria could be classified as mammals, but other features suggest that they were approaching the mammalian grade independently of the true cynodont-mammal line. –Source South African Museum
The first reports out of Nicaragua stated the following:
"Characteristics of the animal's skeletal system, number of vertebrae and ribs, nails, decomposition rate, are now being placed in a data base.
People who live in Tolapa (where the animal was shot by a farmer) characterize the animal as being bold, dog-like and capable of making rapid movements. The jaw line and the fangs terrified investigators." –La Prensa De Nicaragua
Can this all be possible? Can a creature that was once believed to be extinct exist? The answer is yes. It was discovered as recently as 1989 that a creature called the Tuatara existed. The Tuatara live on a few islands near New Zealand Tuataras are the only survivors of an order of reptiles whose other members died out about 60 million years ago. In fact the Tuatara may even pre-date the dinosaurs.
Tuataras have a large head and stocky build. In addition they have a very strong tail and a spiny crest down their backs. They also have a third eye. Tuataras can live to be one hundred years old. Although the Thrinaxodon is closely associated with South Africa there are theories that support the idea that most living Dinosaurs could have migrated when the earth was in a state of Pangea. It is theorized that 180 million years ago Pangea began to break apart separating what is now South America from Africa. Many fossils and plants that appear on different continents across large oceans are the same. South America and South Africa share many of the same fossils and animals.
There is no doubt that the testimony of witnesses declaring that the Chupacabra may be a that a dog like creature with reptilian skin could point circumstantially to a prehistoric creature like the Thrinaxodon while the theory is possible we may have to say at the moment that in all likelihood the alleged Chupacarcass may just be something as simple as a dead wild dog.
CHUPACABRA What could it Be?
By Clyde Lewis
Well here is my theory for your consideration...
Let me know what you think?
The similarities in eyewitness testimony are uncanny!
More thorough time line investigating of the Chupacabras along with diagrams and pictures can be found here www.clydelewis.com/invest/chupa/chupa.html
Page created May 30 1999